Frame replaced

My 96 was checked in 2010 by the previous owner. The report said it passed but was rusty and to bring it back in 6 months. He never did. I bought it last fall, currently inspected, drove perfectly fine, but once I started hammering on it I went through in a few places on the passenger side. Even with it being inspected previously the time was up and I was on my own. It wasn't anywhere near as bad as some of the older Toyota's I've fixed before for the same issues. A little plate, a little welding, some real rust-preventative coatings, and it's perfectly fine. I'm just glad Toyota stepped up on this as much as they did. I've had 10 year old Toyota trucks in the past rusted way worse than mine was with a fraction of the miles. My dad's 98 got bought back and for I think $800 more than his check he drove off with a nice 02 from Grappone. Same basic truck with 50k less miles 5 years newer for $800. Yes please!

BTW they are now going through the same thing with second gens. They rot out next to the cat on the driver's side.

 

Mine frame is getting replaced next week.

 

Another one joins the ranks!

 

My trucks laid up for at least a month getting a new frame separation anxiety

 

a month?? Why so long?

 

they said 2 to 3 wks for parts to get in, and another 2 to 3 for the work its only been two weeks and i HATE the suzuki rental pos

 

Dang!! Does the tech take one turn on a bolt head and then go drink a cup, come back, take another turn, go have a smoke, come back, take another turn, talk to his buddy.....

Toyota allows 60 hrs to do the conversion. Most shops can do it in less than 30.

 

I can't speak for that dealership of course, but depending on the current workload, even if the parts were to arrive in 2-3 weeks, it may take a week or two to get started on the job because of other customer vehicles in the shop? Just my guess since I have seen this type of thing first hand.

 

Yeah mine was in the shop for 2 days....took about 6 days to get the parts, but they said I could keep driving while they ordered everything. Are you getting new leaf packs too?

 

Lol! i used to work there so i know its really busy, and there are dedicated techs who do frames, but also have another bay to do regular work. they're a pretty small dealership so i guess it'll take a while hah

 

Im so glad I live in California and dont have to worry about this issue. My truck has 150K on it and the frame looks almost as new as it did when it rolled off the showroom floor.

 

Just how dangerous are these early frames? My 96 frame likely needs replaced, but that seems quite pricey. Any instances of outright failure on these, or is a gradual thing?

 

It's just sort of "gradual".....

Actually, I've seen a couple where the truck went over a bump or some railroad tracks and the frame started to crack and the bed was jammed against the back of the cab - but nothing catastrophic.

 

Stupid cellphone auto correct... made me look stupid again...LOL "Mine" WTF?

 

I have a 2002 Tacoma that I purchased at an Audi dealership in New Hampshire in August 2011. I was never made aware of any recall, or limited service campaign, on the frame and it looked pretty OK to me when I bought it. A few weeks ago when I went to have it inspected I was told that it would not pass since the frame was so rusted. After researching I found that there was a limited service campaign for a frame replacement for my trucks VIN number. I was able to obtain paper work from a Toyota dealership in New Hampshire dated 4/13/11 that states “rust perforation found, frame replacement required”. I contacted Toyota headquarters in California and was told that the expiration on the recall was 3/31/11. Through this forum I have found that these expiration dates differ by state and that New York was extended the longest. I live in New York and registered the truck in New York in August 2011. I cannot find the deadline specific to NY in the documents on the NHTSA website, only mention of the deadline on forums. Corporate remains adamant that the deadline for NY was 3/31/11, and without proper documentation I have no ground on which to argue. The issues I am having would possibly be resolved with the answers to two questions: did the limited service campaign end in 3/31/11 or 12/31/11 for NY, or NH; and, if the deadline was extended does the truck not having been inspected in NY specifically still allow for the warranty enhancement?

 

I don't know all the ins and outs of this campaign. What I do know is that if your frame was sprayed with their frame coating you have 15 years from the in service date of your truck. My 04 frame was sprayed at the dealership I bought it from and 3 years after I bought it I got a new frame. I live in New Hampshire and that was my experience.

 

Purchased my 2004 taco back in June, looked great and engine purred....even with 194000 miles on the odometer, The frame however was in bad shape....almost a deal breaker. I checked the VIN, truck was born in Ohio, ZTH inspection performed in 2010...I pulled the trigger...made an appointment at the dealer immediately, at first they claimed the frame wasn't covered. It took about a month for them to acknowledge the perforated frame. Toyota Corp sent a team to inspect it and wamo!! Frame going to be replaced, I am still waiting for them to finish. Overall I think toyota is great company.

 

Actually, I think that the 15-year warranty extension is put in force at the time of inspection and undercoating, but that it is effective back to the date it rolled off the production line. That means if you didn't get it inspected and treated by the time specified, then you have no extended warranty. But, if you had the truck inspected and had it coated, a fifteen-year warranty starting on the 'birthday' of the truck is in force.